– our LPD Church of the Week
In September 2012, Pastor Philip and Grace Yung began as LPD Church Planting Missionaries. Philip had grown up at Vancouver Chinese EFC, and had the honour to serve as Youth Pastor there.
While serving, God birthed something in the hearts of Philip and Grace. While they love and are proud of their Chinese heritage and loved their church family, they felt called to reach out to others in a church that would be missional, multiplying, multi-ethnic and multi-generational.
Grace and Phil attended an EFCC Church Planting Bootcamp, and our district worked with Phil and Grace through a church planter assessment that affirmed their call and giftedness. We brought them on as LPD Church Planting Missionaries, and invested in them attending an internship in southern California, with EFCA Church Planter Ray Chang.
Returning to Burnaby, we formed a steering committee for the church plant, and Phil and Grace began to build a team of those who might join them in this venture with God.
Hope City Church hosted a carnival at Charles Rummel Park in Burnaby, and launched their first Sunday services. The work grew, and moved to larger facilities, now settling (pre-COVID) into Burnaby Central Secondary.
Today, there are more than 170 people meeting in 17 micro-churches, and many virtual events happening each week. They ask for our prayers as they seek to remain connected, and seek the Lord for seeking to be used of the Lord in racial reconciliation.
We are so thankful for Phil and Grace, and their willingness to step out in faith. We are also thankful for what God has been doing, and continues to do in and through Hope City Church. Phil and Grace are not alone in their service. They are surrounded by a team of ministry staff, (Michelle Tsang (Aaron), Pastor of Children and Family Ministry and Andrew (Tiffany) Syyong, Pastor of Discipleship, and dedicated volunteers. Their mission is to, “…bring the hope of Jesus to Greater Vancouver and beyond.”
Please check out their website at: https://hopecitychurch.org/
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Thinking Through COVID
As we are now five months into COVID-19, we have all experienced both ups and downs.
This week, we have been dealing with a slight growth in the daily numbers of COVID-19 diagnoses in our province’s daily tally. Though our numbers are considered “low” in comparison to most other jurisdictions, we are still somewhat discouraged to realize that the end of the epidemic is still far away.
In our family, my brother and family who lives in the USA, plans to come to Vancouver to attend the wedding of their son, who lives in town. To come this way means two weeks of self-islolation before they can meet their son and his fiance – and this before the wedding – we all have our stories…
We wrestle with the notion of “re-opening,” and can be overwhelmed by the necessities for COVID-19 policy, site plans and requirements for “social-distancing.” When we do make a plan, we need to continually revise it and be sure that we are in compliance with the latest laws and recommendations.
While this time of COVID has been “paid time off” for many (and this is a blessing), life for pastors and ministry leaders is busier than ever. Much of what just “happened” in church, now demands intentionality and much effort. For example, we may be accustomed to where Sunday included worship, a message, and fellowship. Today, worship may be online, the message is prerecorded and “fellowship” may be a ZOOM conference call.
As the weeks draw into months, and the future remains uncertain, I pray that, “…we will not, “… become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Gal. 6:9,10).
Ed Stetzer, in a rather insightful article for Christianity Today ponders the “short and long-term effects” of COVID-19 on churches. He offers us several observations and recommendations.
short-term-and-long-term-effects-of-covid-19-on-church-in-a.html
Take heart, this is not the first pandemic that Christ’s Church has encountered. In each one, the church has served, has adapted and has ended up flourishing. By God’s grace, may this also be true “on our watch!”
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In my DMn studies, I was introduced to the concept of “situational leadership.” While we often refer to one’s “style” of leadership, situational leadership involves me adapting my leadership approach to suit the current needs of those I lead. This involves listening. This involves discernment. This demands humility and care for those I lead. It also means commitment to the mission.
In these days of COVID, we have perhaps all needed to learn to lead differently. As people are disconnected and even disheartened, how can we encourage them to look to Christ? How can we encourage them to grow, to serve and to flourish in Christ?
Dan Reiland offers us some good suggestions on leadership in his article, “Top 10 Practices of the Best Leaders I Know.” What he writes transcends leadership style – it is simple, practical advice for leading and serving those entrusted to us. Here is the link:
top-10-practices-of-the-best-leaders-i-know
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Is your church making plans to “re-open? Here are some findings about what churches are doing? study-churches-gathering-again-but-with-precautions
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Out of the Office
Karen and I will be away for the next two weeks, and will return to the office on August 11. We look forward to this time together, and also to connecting with you as we return.
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Please Remember our LPD Missionaries:
Here is the link to their information and how to support them:
Please remember all of our LPD Missionaries (and all missionaries) at this time.
https://www.lpd-efcc.ca/donations
LPD Missionaries
Dan and Sharon Williams (Osoyoos Project)
Steve and Gillian Sharpe (Missionary of Church Planting Development)
Jonathan and Harmony Ng (Inner City Ministry)
Noel and Lynda Macasaet (New Living Assembly)
Jorge and Emily Lin (Church of All Nations/”new”New West EFC)
Joshua and Nicole Fast (Priceless Youth Ministry)
Allen and Hannah Chang (Steveston Project)
Daniel and Joyce Wong (Steveston Project)
Nathan and Amber Kinsey (Winsome Games) –beginning September 1.
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HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR CHURCHES REGARDING COVID-19
We in the LPD are here to serve you and your church through this time. Josephine has been continually updating our information, so has the most current information available on resources available to you and your church in this time. Please email Josephine.
Please contact us for:
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Please pray for:
